Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Flow control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-20
2004-05-18
Lagman, Frederick L. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Flow control
C405S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06736570
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a precast end or terminal for culverts and a form for casting the end. More specifically, the invention relates to a precast end with improved safety features and the form therefor.
2. Related Art
Precast concrete end walls (which may also be known as terminals or bulkheads) applied at the delivery or receiving end of culverts are known in the prior art. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,144,200 to Hewett and U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,588 to Odendahl, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. Typically, conventional “safety” end walls have an upward slope for deflection of vehicles at highway, driveway, and road drainage crossings. However, conventional safety end walls are of limited value in controlling the overgrowth of grass and other vegetation, and in controlling erosion along the sides.
The current method of forming a culvert end wall requires cutting a precast pipe, placing the cut precast pipe, pouring a concrete apron to complete the culvert end, and then waiting 48 hours while the concrete cures.
It is to the solution of these and other problems that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a safety end that can control the overgrowth of vegetation and can also control erosion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety end that has improved strength characteristics.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a form for a precast safety end that enables placement of the safety end in one step.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a precast safety end for use with culverts on highway, driveway, and road drainage crossings, and a form for making the precast safety end. The precast safety end has a base having a depending flange at its outer end and an upright wall at its inner end, and opening in the wall to register with the opening in an abutting pipe culvert. Upright side walls on each side of the base connect with the upright end wall. The side walls taper downwardly from the upright end wall to the end of the base. The side walls have outwardly protruding wings on either side to prevent erosion and overgrowth of grass.
The form comprises an inner, main form member and two first and second outer side form members and that define a void in the shape of the base and side walls, an inner end wall form member and a channel forming member extending between the inner end wall form member and the main form member that with the main form member define a void in the shape of the upright end wall, and an outer end form member and a cross-piece that together with the outer end form member and the main form member define a void in the shape of the projecting flange.
REFERENCES:
patent: 354897 (1886-12-01), Goodridge, Jr.
patent: 1144200 (1915-06-01), Hewett
patent: 1452796 (1923-04-01), De la Mare
patent: 2263588 (1941-11-01), Odendahl
patent: 2636352 (1953-04-01), Alger
patent: 4457646 (1984-07-01), Laesch
patent: 4564313 (1986-01-01), Niswander et al.
patent: 4673159 (1987-06-01), Schmidgall
patent: 4993872 (1991-02-01), Lockwood
patent: 5536113 (1996-07-01), McGregor
patent: 5836717 (1998-11-01), Bernini
patent: 6004068 (1999-12-01), Hosley
patent: 6203245 (2001-03-01), Harten
patent: D447543 (2001-09-01), Quin
patent: D447544 (2001-09-01), Quin
patent: 6394700 (2002-05-01), Fish
patent: D469519 (2003-01-01), Garza, Jr.
patent: 6533498 (2003-03-01), Quin
patent: 2076867 (1981-12-01), None
Photographs of a conventional safety end for a culvert, believed to have been in use prior to Apr. 16, 2001.
“Precast Safety End Treatment Type II Riprap Details PSET-RR,”Texas Department of Transportation Bridge Division(Oct. 2001).
“Precast Safety End Treatment Type II ~ Cross Drainage PSET-SC,”Texas Department of Transportation Bridge Division(Sep. 2000).
“Precast Safety End Treatment Type II ~ Parallel Drainage PSET-RP,”Texas Department of Transportation Bridge Division(Sep. 2000).
“Precast Safety End Treatment Type II ~ Cross Drainage PSET-RC,”Texas Department of Transportation Bridge Division(Sep. 2000).
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
L&R Pre-Cast Concrete Works
Lagman Frederick L.
LandOfFree
Precast safety end and form therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Precast safety end and form therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Precast safety end and form therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3226503